In This Issue:
- Food Venture Financing Trends
- CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Funds
- Links to Relevant Content and Events
Food Venture Financing Trends
- Orchard Robotics, an agtech startup, has raised a $22 million Series A round.
- Finnish Food Factory, a food manufacturing company specializing in plant-based products, has raised €10 million.
- FarmLab, an agtech company, acquired Ziltek, an Australian company known for its portable, in-field soil scanner, RemScan.
CPG Corporate Venture and Private Equity Fund
This week's featured corporate venture and private equity fund is 1st Course Capital.
- 1st Course Capital ("1CC") is an early stage venture capital firm that invests in innovative business models and technologies that change "how we grow, produce, and distribute food."
- The portfolio companies include the following:
- BlueCart: Powering B2B e-commerce solutions for the foodservice industry
- Bobbie: Infant formula produced using clean and transparent ingredients
- Ellement: Personalized prenatal supplements and customized support
- AgriDigital: Commodity trading platform remaking the supply chain for improved traceability and margins for farmers
- Dispatch Goods: Reverse logistics company offering re-usable packaging for restaurant delivery and takeout
- Maev: Building the future of dog care
Links to Relevant Content and Events
ARTICLES
- Activist Investor Pushes For PepsiCo Turnaround with $4 Billion Stake
- Kraft Heinz to Break up a Decade After Mega-Merger
- Specialty Snacks Maker Expanding in Virginia
- PE Firm Acquires Cain Food Industries, Merges it with Millbio
- The 'AI farming Company' Orchard Robotics Bags $22 Million
- Jungbunzlauer Expands US Manufacturing Footprint with Acquisition of IFF Site
UPCOMING EVENTS
Naturally Wisconsin
2025 IFT Golf Outing
Tuesday, September 16 | 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. CT
Take a break from the office, and spend a beautiful day outside golfing with your colleagues and industry friends.
Not a golfer? Not a problem! Come to the celebration social hour and dinner! Join your fellow WIFT members and friends for great food, networking, and a preview of the year's coming events!
Naturally NorCal
Sales Forum: Trade Spend Decoded
Tuesday, September 16 | 12–1 p.m. PT
Join Naturally NorCal for an open, collaborative discussion where they'll break down how to make trade spend work for your brand. Whether you're just starting to invest in promotions or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session will help you navigate the numbers, expectations, and realities of investing in growth. They'll unpack retailer and distributor expectations, how to tie spend to your goals (like velocity or awareness), explore deduction management, broker roles, and how to evaluate ROI.
The Sales Forum lead is Adam Biggs, CO-Founder of C2O Coconut Water and Vice President of Sales at Nova Naturals.
Naturally New York
Marketing & Media Bootcamp
Tuesday, September 16 | 4–7:30 p.m. ET
Location: The Working Assembly, 6 West 18th Street, New York, NY
Join Naturally New York for a high-impact bootcamp designed to equip founders with actionable marketing and media insights - from brand storytelling and PR to digital strategy and audience growth—to help brands scale smarter.
Naturally San Diego
BevNET + NSD Meet-Up
Tuesday, September 16 | 5–7 p.m. PT
Location: 2645 Financial Ct., Suite D, San Diego, CA
BevNET and Naturally San Diego are celebrating the San Diego Natural Products Community by hosting a food, beverage, and beer industry meet up.
The meetup will feature two hours of live podcast recordings and industry networking, as well as adult and non-alcoholic beverages, and appetizers. Join the Producer & Editor of Taste Radio, Ray Latif, and Taste Radio co-hosts John Craven, Jacqui Brugliera, and Mike Schneider, along with industry professionals within the food, beverage, beer, and beyond industries.
Naturally NorCal
AI for Finance & Operations: Streamlining Your Business with Smarter Tools
Wednesday, September 17 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. PT
Curious how AI can help your business run smoother behind the scenes? This session is for CPG brands ready to unlock smarter ways to run your company and reduce tedious work.
Explore how emerging and established companies are using AI to improve forecasting, manage cash flow, optimize inventory, and make better decisions faster. You'll hear about real-world tools and use cases that are already driving efficiency across finance and ops teams.
Speakers:
- Ryan Caldbeck, Founder & CEO of Waystation AI
- Dave Hirschkop (Moderator), CPG Advisor & Former Founder of Dave’s Gourmet at Naturally NorCal Board
- Akash Raju, Founder & CEO of Glimpse
- John Zdanowski, Co-Founder, CEO of Weekly Accounting
Naturally New York
MAPPING THE RISK: State Tax Insights for Consumer Brands
Thursday, September 18 | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET
Join Anchin's Alan Goldenberg, Tax Principal and Leader of the firm's State and Local Tax and Tax Controversy Groups, as he discusses the state tax exposure brands and businesses may encounter when doing business in numerous states. Alan will detail the key strategies brands can implement to ensure they are compliant with their state tax obligations.
Naturally Wisconsin
Food Finance Forum Happy Hour
Thursday, September 18 | 4–5 p.m. CT
Location: Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison
Join Naturally Wisconsin for their Food Finance Forum Happy Hour.
Naturally Chicago
Women in CPG Women's Leadership Retreat
Thursday, September 18 | 4:30–6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Creekside Ventures Wellness Retreat, Long Grove, IL
This exciting event takes place at Creekside Ventures Wellness Retreat in Long Grove, Illinois — the new home of Tracey Halama, CEO of Supergut and former CEO of Vital Proteins. This will be a special evening bringing together powerful founders, marketers, investors, operators, bold brand builders and risk takers who are shaping the future of food and consumer products.
Alongside high-value networking and dealmaking, guests will enjoy wellness-inspired cocktails, curated farm-to-table bites, professional headshots and immersive experiences designed to help harness your best self.
Following a poolside chat with leading woman-led brands, you will leave with fresh ideas, valuable new connections and a curated brand discovery bag to continue your journey beyond the evening.
Naturally Seattle
Maeve Factory Tour & Chocolate Tasting
Thursday, September 18 | 6–7:15 p.m. PT
Location: 1180 Andover Park West, Seattle, WA
Join Naturally Seattle on a factory tour of Maeve Chocolate (formerly Seattle Chocolate)! We'll begin the tour with cacao education from one of Maeve's Chocolate Ambassadors, then move into the factory to see the chocolate making in action. We'll finish out the experience with a blind taste test of chocolates and learn to taste like professionals.
Naturally Colorado
Morning Meetup: Nature Hike
Friday, September 19 | 8:30–10 a.m. MT
Location: Chautauqua Park, Kinnikinnick Rd, Boulder, CO
Join the Naturally Colorado team for a moderate hike in the beautiful foothills of Boulder, Colorado! The group will meet on Friday, September 19th, at 8:30 AM next to the Ranger Cottage in Chautauqua Park. The planned hike will last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, with an opportunity for additional networking for those who can stay afterward over coffee at the General Store.